Diascia plant named ‘KLEDB05503’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘KLEDB05503’, characterized by its vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; and large dark orange-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Diascia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEDB05503’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEDB05503’.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Diascia cultivars with uniform plant habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Diascia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany in June, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number GW 002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number GW 001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar KLEDB05503 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in June, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Diascia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since September, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Diascia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEDB05503 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEDB05503’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEDB05503’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia:

-   -   1. Vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Large dark orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Diascia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Diascia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Diascia are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the Diascia×hybrida cultivar Red Ace, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/639,898, now abandoned. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Diascia differed from plants of the cultivar Red Ace in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Diascia had larger flowers than plants of         the cultivar Red Ace.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Diascia and the cultivar Red Ace         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Red Ace had         red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Diascia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Diascia. The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘KLEDB05503’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 18° C. and maximum light levels were 60,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time and were about eleven weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar KLEDB05503. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number GW 002, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number GW 001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to develop roots, winter.—About 14 days at temperatures             of 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; pale white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, upright and somewhat             outwardly spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, about 17 lateral branches             develop per plant; pinching enhances branching.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 22 cm to 24 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 17 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             147A; venation, 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single flowers arranged on terminal             racemes. Freely flowering habit with usually about 22 open             flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers face             outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             May through September in Germany. Flowers last about five             days onthe plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape:             Rounded. Color: 144D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals             modified into two banner petals, two lateral petals with             spurs and a protruding lip petal. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous, satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: 32A.             When opening, lower surface: 32B. Fully opened, upper             surface: 33A; throat, close to 59A. Fully opened, lower             surface: 32A; nectar spurs, 59A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped             calyx. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:             138A. Color, lower surface: 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 137C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth. Color:             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About four.             Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             color: 46A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 13A.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length: About             1 mm. Style color: 146D. Stigma appearance: Rounded. Stigma             color: 151B. Ovary color: 144A.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color:             177A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Diascia. 

1. A new and distinct Diascia plant named ‘KLEDB05503’ as illustrated and described. 